How to Grow and Care for Bird's-nest fern

Bird's-nest fern, also known as Nest fern, Hawai'i birdnest fern

Bird's-nest fern generally has an easy care profile, welcoming to beginners. The two most critical care points for bird's-nest fern are ensuring high humidity and avoiding direct sunlight, as bird's-nest fern thrives in moist, shaded environments. Overwatering should be avoided to prevent root rot, making sure the soil is well-draining yet consistently moist. These key aspects are central to the health and growth of bird's-nest fern.

Watering schedule: Every week

Sunlight Requirements: Full shade

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Planting and Growing Bird's-nest fern

Toughness	High
Care Level	High
Care Difficulty	Easy
Lifespan	Perennial
Watering Schedule	Every week
Sunlight Requirements	Full shade
Soil Type	Potting Mix, Garden Soil
Soil pH	5.5-7
Planting Time	Mid spring, Late spring, Early summer, Fall, Early winter
Hardiness Zones	9-12

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Varieties of Bird's-nest fern

Birds nest fern

Birds nest fern(Asplenium nidus 'Ruffled') is an ornate fern that stands out from its parent plant because its leaves have particularly ruffled edges. This feature gives the plant both its name and its ornamental appeal. Since this fern is a tree-growing epiphyte, it is most prized by gardeners as a hanging basket plant.

Bird's-nest fern 'Campio'

This cultivar is similar to the Bird's-nest fern, but with unique leaf margins. The bird's-nest fern 'Campio' has a ruffled, fringed leaf, appreciated for its appealing appearance and its status as a good beginner fern. This plant comes from the fern Asplenium nidus, which was a popular houseplant in 1970s America.

Bird's-nest fern 'Crispy Wave'

One of the most popular bird's-nest fern cultivars for its striking appearance, bird's-nest fern 'Crispy Wave' has the rosette arrangement of leaves typical of all Asplenium nidus ferns. Its bright-green leaves, however, have a ruffled and slightly twisted 'crispy' appearance, explaining its name.

Bird's-nest fern 'Osaka'

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More General Info About Bird's-nest fern

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Quickly Identify Bird's-nest fern

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Bird's-nest fern boasts large, strap-shaped, stemless fronds that are bright green, with wavy margins and a distinctive dark brown-black mid-rib. These fronds, often reaching 1.5-2 feet (45-60 cm) indoors and up to 4-5 feet (120-150 cm) by 8 inches (20 cm) wide outdoors, grow in an overlapping rosette pattern that creates a nest-like center from which the foliage gracefully arches outward. The fronds’ undersides contain brown sporophores for reproduction. Despite not bearing flowers or fruits, its dramatic foliage and growth habit make it an attractive choice for indoor and shaded outdoor environments.